FRASER pays tribute to his old boss and legendary junior manager George Walker who has decided to call it a day after three decades in charge at Keanie Park.

The final countdown as George and Eddie lead out the teams against Lanark last month

LONGEVITY is not a common trait in football management these days and the juniors is no different.

Clubs can go through gaffers like new strips and the average shelf life at our grade isn’t much longer than a Johnstone Burgh pie. And they don’t last long!

Pollok have had three managers this season. Same in the lower rungs where Rossvale welcome in their third boss in just six months as Martin Lauchlan steps into management.

There’s loads of clubs chopping and changing but that’s one accusation that can’t be levelled at Johnstone Burgh.

Two words have been synonymous with our famous old club for the past three decades – George Walker.

Manager at Keanie Park for the best part of 25 years, other than an ill-fated stint at Kilbirnie,George has had more ups and downs than Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout.

He took the club from bottom division to top and reached the Junior Cup Final in 2000, losing agonisingly on penalties to Whitburn.

George’s Burgh then recovered to win the last ever Central Premier League title before reconstruction in 2002.

Sadly fortunes have gone full circle and now we are back at the bottom as the boss finally decides to depart the dugout and “move upstairs”.

He must be going to sit on the roof.

But for all his achievements on the park it’s probably the investment George has made off it – time, effort and his own money – which has been most important to the club’s wellbeing.

His retirement brings an end to a long era for the club.. and the juniors in a wider sense.

He has always been able to lean on his trusted sidekick Eddie McKim. They're inseparable as a management duo and like everything else have decided to make this move together although I'm not convinced Eddie won't spring up elsewhere.

Like all good partnerships theirs was based on a good cop/bad cop routine with George only too happy to be the enforcer.

Referees across the country will be rejoicing at the news and the wallpaper in the home dressing room will have a few less blisters on it.

His dressing room rants are legendary. George often got so furiously wound up he would introduce brand new words into the English language.

It's times like those when you daren't glance at any of your team mates in case a wee snigger escapes.

But it's that passion which is exactly George's main asset. He'd have us ready to run through a brick wall ahead of kick off.

Needing to win by two clear goals at Wishaw four years back to claim the second division title we went out and stormed into a 5-1 half time lead.

Yet at the interval I can still hear him screaming.. 'What's the score?'

'Ehhh, 5-1 George'

'No it's not it's 0-0! Don't anyone think this is done!'

We won 6-1 and handed George what was to be his last piece of silverware as a manager.

George led us to the 2010 Second Division title

My association with George may have ended on a sour note and a parting of the ways midway through last season. But, as they say, that's football.

However that will never take away the respect I have for a man who has done more than any other to keep a great club and local institution alive.

I've said many times that junior clubs face a weekly battle to keep the wolves from the door.

With figures like George Walker on side those battles are always a little easier won.

That’s it then, the season has finally drawn to a close after more than 10 months of drama, successes, failures and no end of talking points.

The final two pieces of silverware in the west were handed out this week and Clydebank, having won the first trophy of the season in the the Sectional League Cup, rounded things off nicely by securing the last honour - the League Cup.

Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory over Cumbernauld completes what must go down as the Bankies’ most successful season since joining the Junior ranks and congratulations to Budgie McGhie and his staff and players for that.

Likewise down the coast where Troon added the Ayrshire Cup to their Superleague First Division title with a superb 2-0 win over Junior Cup champions Hurlford.

Once again the honours have been shared around our clubs like sweeties at a children’s birthday party - there’s no danger of one fat cat hogging the lot here.

And don’t for a minute think the Juniors are now heading into holiday mode. Not only are thoughts turning to next season but for many the training has already begun!